Propeller-gearing for flying-machines



A. E. ZUMWALT.

PROPELLER GEAR'ING FOR FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4,1919.

1.,338,1 16. Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

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- ALVA E. ZUMWALT, 0F CANEY, KANSAS.

PROPELLER-GEARING FOR FLYING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

Application filed October 4, 1919. Serial No. 328,342.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALVA E. ZUMWALT, a citizen of the United States, residing at (Janey, in the county of Montgomery and State of Kansas, have invented certam new and useful Improvements in Propeller- Gearing for Flying-Machinea of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings;

This invention relates to an improved propeller gearing for flying machines and an object of the invention is to provide a simple, eflicient and practical gearing of this kind, especially adapted to cut down the upkeep of the engine, gearing and the propelling means, and furthermore to facilitate lubricating the bearings of thepropeller shaft and the crank shaftv of the en-' gine, naturally eliminating the necessity of Heretofore in gearing propeller shafts,

such shafts are allowed to gear axially, in other words move slightly inits bearlngs, owingto it being necessary to relleve the heavy strain from the blades of the propeller when operating against the air, to pull the heavy load at the rear of the propeller. In the present case, it is the aim to eliminate the axial movement or give to the shaft (which has heretofore been maintained necessary to relieve the strain on the propeller blades) and in lieu thereof provide means to hold the propeller shaft in a substantially fixed position, that is to say against axial movement or give by providing bearings or means cooperating with parts of the engine casing and carried by the propeller shaft to prevent axial movement of the shaft and adapted to contact with parts of the casing of the engine to prevent axial movement of such shaft.

By means of a construction of this kind, it will be noted that the up-keep of the en gine, the gearing and the propeller will be considerably cut down, therefore the expense of operating the engine and the gear ing Will be considerably lessened, and moreover the life of the engine and the propeller will also be prolonged.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a propeller gearing, whereby the engine or motor may be adapted to rotate at a low rate of speed, while the propeller may revolve at a high rate of speed, thereby saving repairs to the various parts.

While the design and construction at present illustrated and set forth is deemed preferable, it is obvious that as. a result of a reduction of the invention to a more practicalform for commercial purposes, the invention may be susceptible to changes, and the right to these changes is claimed, provided they are comprehended within the scope of What is claimed.

The invention. comprises further features and combination of parts, as will be. hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed. 1

In the'drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a portion of an engine base or crank case, showing the crank shaft and the propeller shaft, illustrating the gearing connecting the two shafts.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. i

Referring more especially to the drawings, 1 designates the engine base or crank case, the forward end of which is of the shape shown though not necessarily, for it is obvious that it may be otherwise constructed. A partition or .wall 2 is arranged in the engine base or crank case, and mounted in suitable bearings 3 and 4 of the partition and the forward end of the crank is a conventional form of crank shaft 5, the cranks 6 of which have connected thereto the usual pitmen 7 of the cylinders. These bearings 3 and 1 are secured at 8 to the partition 2 and the end of the crank case. A gear 9 is fixed to and movable with the crank shaft and is adapted to'rotate in the compartment 10.

Also mounted in bearings 11 and 12 between the partition and the end of the crank case is a propeller shaft 13, on the outer end of which as at 14 a propeller 15 is mounted. The bearings 11 and '12 are secured to the partition and the end of the crank case as at 16. Suitable bearing plates 17, 18 and 19 are secured to the propeller shaft and are adapted to cooperate with the partition and the end wall of the crank case, so to prevent axial movement of the propeller shaft in its bearings. In other words, the axial end thrust which is usually present in propeller gearings for aeroplanes to relieve the strain of the propeller blades is eliminated in the present construction, particularly since it is the aim to operate the engine at a slow speed, so as to save repairs of the engine, and prolong its life, as well as causing a considerable reduction of the upkeep, while the propeller and the shaft are rotated at a higher speed. It has been found that by equipping the propeller shaft with a smaller gear 20 and the engine shaft with a larger gear, in order to operate the propeller at a relatively higher speed than the crank shaft, it is unnecessary to utilize an end or axial thrust of the propeller shaft to relieve the strain on the blades of the propeller. It is to be noted that the crank shaft in the present case operates in oil or lubricant, and furthermore, the partition 2 is provided with a plurality of openings or apertures 21 and 22 to permit the oil or lubricant to pass into the compartment 10, and lubricate the bearings of the propeller shaft, as well as to lubricate the gears, in order to relieve the heat which is generally created, owing to the frictional contact of the cooperating parts.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful. is:

1. In a propeller gearing for flying machine engines, the combination with a crank case adapted to contain lubricant and pro vided with a partition dividing the crank case into dominant and auxiliary lubricant containing chambers, of a crank shaft mounted in bearings in the end of the crank case and said partition, a propeller shaft mounted in bearings in the partition and the end of the crank case, a propeller on said shaft, means on the propeller shaftto cooperate with the partition and the end wall of the crank case to prevent axial movement of the propeller shaft, and relatively different diameters of intermeshing gear connections between the crank and propeller shafts, whereby the crank shaft may rotate at a slow speed and the propeller shaft at a relatively higher or greater speed.

2. In a propeller gearing for aeroplane engines, the combination with a crank case provided with a partition dividing the crank case into dominant and auxiliary lubricant receiving chambers, of a propeller shaft mounted in bearings of the partition and provided with a propeller, means on one end of said shaft and engaging the partition to assist in preventing outward or axial thrust of the shaft, means adjacent the outer end of the shaft cooperating upon either side of the end wall of the crank case .to further assist in preventing axial or out-v ward end thrust or pull upon said shaft, means mounted in bearings of the partition and the end wall of the crank case and having gear connections of relatively different diameters with said propeller shaft, whereby said means may operate at a low rate of speed, while the propeller shaft operates at a relatively higher or greater rate of speed, and a communication through the partition for permitting the passage oflubricant connecting the dominant and auxiliary chambers to permit lubricant to enter the auxiliary chamber, lubricating the bearings and the gear connections. V

3. In a propeller gear for aeroplane engines, the combination with a crank case provided with a partition dividing the case into dominant and auxiliary lubricant receiving chambers, of a propeller shaft including a propeller mounted in bearings in the partition and the end of the case, means comprising disks secured to the propeller shaft, one'adjacent the partition, and two adjacent the opposite faces of the end. of the case to prevent axial end thrust of the propeller shaft, said partition having openings therethrough to permit the lubricant from the dominant chamber to flow into the auxiliary chamber for lubricating the bearings of the propeller shaft, a crank shaft mounted in bearings in the partition and the end of the crank case and provided with gear connections of relatively different diameters with the propeller shaft, whereby the crank shaft may rotate at a low rate of speed, while the propeller shaft rotates at a relatively higher or greater speed.

In testimony whereof I. hereunto affix my signature.

ALVA E. ZUMWALT. 

